Pneumatic action for piano-players.



N. MAGNUSON.

PNEUMATIC ACTION FOR PIANO PLAYERS. APPLICATION FILED APR. 12. 1915.

1,158,067. Patented Oct. 26, 1915.

2 SHEETS-SHEET I.

INVENTOR. WITNESSES:

ATTORNEYS.

COLUMBIA PLANDGRAPH COHWASHINGTON, D. c.

N. MAGNUSON. PNEUMATIC ACTION FOR PIANO PLAYERS.

APPLICATION FILED APR.12,19I5.

Patented Oct. 26, 1915.

2 SHEETSSHEET 2.

IN V EN TOR.

A TTORNE YS.

UNITED STATES PATEN T @Fhlltllll.

NELS MAGNUS'ON, OF FORT WAYNE, INDIANA.

PNEUMATIC AGTION FOB PIANO-PLAYERS.

Application filed April 12, 1915.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that 1, Nate MAGNUSON, a citizen of the United States of America, and resident of Fort ll ayne, in the county of Allen and State of Indiana, have invented certain new and useful improvements in Pneumatic Actions for Piano-Players, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to improvements in pneumatic actions for piano players and the object thereof is to attain compactness in the arrangement of the groups of pneumatic members and also the arrangement of the groups of valves for regulating the same; and another object is to so construct and mount the valves and pneumatic members that they may be easily removed and replaced in groups without disturbing other groups or accessories of the piano.

The above objects are accomplished by the construction illustrated in the accompanying drawings in which Figure 1 is a side, transverse section through the universal air chamber and showing in connection therewitl'i one group of pneumatic members and the valves for regulating the same, the valve chambers being shown cut away and in section; Fig. 2 is a plan view of Fig. 1; Fig. 3 is a bottom plan view of one of the chambered sections used i making up the valve casing; Fig. 4: is a bottom plan view, partially cut away and in section. of another of the sections for making up the valve casin Fig. 5 is a top plan view of another of said sections shown partly cut away and in section; Fig. 6 is a transverse vertical section through a portion of a piano showing the application of the present invention to the piano action and its relative arrangement to the fall-board of the piano; Fig. 7 is a rear elevation of an assembled group otsections that form the casing for the valves; and Fig. 8 is a front elevation of the supporting plate for one group of pneumatic members.

Similar numerals of reference indicate corresponding parts throughout the several views and referring now to the same:

(1) is the universal air chamber that is ordinarily used in apparatus of the class herein disclosed and is mounted in the piano-case (2) above the rear ends of the keys (3) and in front of the row of sticks (4) that operate the various key actions. The pneumatic members (5) are arranged in vertical series and are respectively fixed Specification of Letters Eatent.

Patented (let. 2%, 1915.

Serial to. 20,683.

to a corresponding series of air-ducts (6) with which they have communication. The pneumatic members are placed one above the other and each has an extension (T) for connection by means oi a connecting wire (8 with a corresponding lever that operates the hammer action (10). T he air-ducts extend horizontally in groups correspondingly from supporting-plates (11) each or which has openings therein communicating respectively with the air-ducts. Each plate (11) has also openings (13) that communicate with tubes (H), and the latter extend upwardly beyond the top of the plate (11) and are connected with a plate (15) through which they commui'iicate respectively with passage-ways (16) that are made in a supporting rail (17) which is fixed in the piano case. The openings (16) have communication respectively with tubes (18) that lead to the tracker-bar or the instrument in the customary manner. The tracker-bar is not illustrated inasmuch as it is commonly known. The lower end of the plate (11) is attached to the top of the chamber (1) by means of screws (19) and the plate is attached to the rail (17) by means of screws (20) so that the plate will be held rigidly thereby.

The valves (21) are contained within a casin composed of sections and (2%) arranged in groups composed of one of each of said sections. All of the sections are held together by means of screw-bolts (25) that extend through bolt-holes made through the sections, the lower end of each bolt being screw-threaded so as to engagein the extension (27) that is made on the bottom of the lowermost section (2%). The sections thus grouped 2111C held together in one pack are placed in position against the face of the plate (11) and secured rigidly thereto by means of a screw (28) that extends through a lug on the air-chamber and bears against the front of said extension on the bottom oi' the lowermost section (24) and by means of a screw (30) that extends through a lug (31) that is integral with the uppermost of said sections (22) and is screw-threaded in the plate (11). Each of the sections has a chamber in its bottom, and the chamber extends to the rear face of the section and registers with the corresponding opening (12) in the plate (11) so that there will be free communication between the chamber and 1 plate (11).

corresponding air-ducts (6) through the The sections (22) also each have a valve opening (33) in its top, and the chamber is so formed as to provide shoulders (34) that serve as guides for the valve head (21). The sections (23) have each a chamber (35) made in its under side and a valve opening (36) extending from the chamber through its top and arranged in alinement With the valve opening in the section (22) above it. All of the sections have vertical air-passage-Ways (37) that are arranged in alinement except the uppermost section (22), which, having no openings, affords a closure for the passageways (37) at the top. It will be understood that these alined passage-Ways extend through the pack from the bottom of the topmost section (22) to the universal airchamber with which they have communication through corresponding openings made therein as indicated by dotted lines.

The chambers of each of the sections (23) have communication through ports (39), made in the latter, with the passageways (37). Each of the sections (24) has a chamber (40) in its top and a passageway (41) extending from said chamber to the rear face of the section and is'adapted to register and communicate with a corre sponding opening (13) in the plate (11) when the pack is in position. Lateral openings (42) in the lower faces of the two uppermost of the sections (24) are made to admit of the passage of air to the valve openings (33) in the two lowermost sections (22). A small by-pass opening (43) extends from the upper surface of the section (24) into the passage-way (41) and is adapted to afford communication between the passage-way (41) and the chamber (35) of the section (23) through .a chamfer' (44) made in the lower face of the latter. Between the sections (23) and (24) is secured a diaphragm (45), the latter being perforated at a point coincident with a vent (43) and chamfer (44) so as to admit of the passage of air therethrough. Each of the valves (21) has a pendant button-headed stem (46) that rests upon the corresponding diaphragmso that when the diaphragm is drawn upwardly the valve that normally rests upon the upper face of the section (23) and closes the valve opening (36) will be lifted therefrom and made to close the valve opening (33) in the section (22).

In the operation of the device vacuum is formed in the air-chamber 1) in the customary manner, and the vacuum formed therein extends through the passage-ways (37) and ports (39) to the chambers (35), as well as through the chamfers (44) and vents (43) to the chambers (40) and the tubes (14) communicating therewith. The tubes (14) being connected with the tracker-bar are prevented from receiving air through the tracker-bar because of the obstruction of the music roll, except when air is admitted through perforations made in the latter. When air is thus admitted the vacuum in the chambers (40) is relieved and owing to the vacuum in the, chambers (35),the diaphragm is drawn upwardly and the valves are lifted from the valve openings and the valve-openings become closed so that the vacuum in thechambers is extended through the chambers (32) and air ducts (6 to the pneumatic members (5) correspondingly, thereupon the pneumatic members are caused to respond in the customary movement that results in the operation of the hammer action connected with it. When the perforations in the roll pass the tracker-bar and the admission of air is shut off the vacuum maintained in the chambers withdraws the remaining air from the chambers (40) through the vent and chamfer so that the valves are returned to their normal position, closing the valve openings (36) and opening the valve openings (33) and as the latter is opened air is admitted through the openings (42) and valve openings (33) from whence it is drawn through the ducts into the pneumaticmembers which are of the usual type that tend to remain in expanded position. By arranging the pneumatic members in groups secured to removable plates independently of the other groups that make up the complete player action for the instrument; and by forming the valve casing sections in corresponding packs and by removably securing them upon the front faces of the supporting plates, their removal for readjustment or repair is simplified. The entire arrangement of pneumatic members and the valves therefor may he removed from the instrument as a whole, or any one of the groups may be removed without disturbingany of the other groups, access being gained thereto by removing the front panel (47) or the fallboard (48) of the piano-case as occasion may require.

What I claim is 1. In a pneumatic action for piano-players, a universal air chamber; a series of pneumatic members arranged in groups; a supporting plate for each group of pneumatic members; an air-duct having supporting and communicating relation with each pneumatic member and being attached to the said plate and having communication therethrough; a pack or valve case containing a series of valves, one for each of the pneumatic members, said valves having communication through suitable passage-Ways.

being communication with each of said valves through said plate with the corresponding air-ducts.

2. In a pneumatic action for piano players, a multiplicity of pneumatic members arranged in groups; an independent supporting plate for each of said groups; a detachable casing secured to each of said plates, there being communicating means through each of said plates, from the members to the corresponding casings; corresponding groups of valves for the pneumatic members contained within said casings; means communicating respectively with said valves through the supporting plate and leading to the tracker-bar of the instrument for controlling the valves; and an air-chamber havlng communication with said valves through suitable passage-Ways for the movement of air to actuate said valves.

3. In a pneumatic action for piano-players, a detachable plate having openings made therein; a group of pneumatic members attached upon one side of the plate and having respectively communication through the corresponding openings in the plate; a removable valve-casing attached to the opposite side of the plate and have chambers therein that communicate correspondingly through said plate with the pneumatic members; a valve contained in each of said cl'lambers; and pneumatic means for actuating the valves.

4. In a pneumatic action for piano-play ers, a series of independent supporting plates; a group of pneumatic members supported by said plate upon one side thereof; valve mechanism detachably mounted on the opposite side of the supporting plate and having communications therethrough severally with said pneumatic members; and pneumatic means for actuating said valve mechanism.

5. In a pneumatic action for piano-players, a detachable pack made up of sections arranged in groups and secured together, the two uppermost sections of each group having alined valve openings; a valve in the chamber of each of the uppermost sections; a diaphragm between the two lowermost sections of each group adapted to actuate the corresponding valves, said pack having passage-ways for air communication with the chamber of the middle section of each group; air communicating means adapted for connection with the tracker-bar of the instrument and having communication severally with the chamber of the lowermost section of each group; and a series of pneumatic members having communication re spectively with the chamber of the uppermost section of each group.

6. In a, pneumatic piano-player action, an apertured supporting plate; a group of pneumatic members supported by the plate and having communication with corresponding apertures in the plate; a group of tubes in fixed relation with the plate and having communication severally through other apertures in the plate; a second plate in connection with the upper ends of the tubes and affording support therefor; means for the connection of said tubes with the trackerbar of the instrument; and a valve mechanism detachably secured to the supporting plate and having communication through said apertures with said pneumatic members and tubes.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature in presence of two Witnesses.

NELS MAGNUSON.

WVitnesses SOPHIA HEINE, MATHILDA Mn'r'rnnn.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, I). 0. 

